IT Sligo

Archaeologists from around the world will descend on IT Sligo today for a 5-day international conference to discuss the use of the latest technology in exploring our past.

Drones, data mining and artificial intelligence will be among the topics discussed by some of the world's leading archaeologists.

Over 140 delegates from 33 countries are attending, and researchers will share how they're using some of the these technological advances in their studies and excavations of ancient sites in places such as Iraq, Egypt, Ethiopia, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Sudan.

The 13th International Conference on Archaeological Prospection is held every two years at various locations, and this is the first time it's being held in Ireland.

The conference was organised by IT Sligo lecturer Dr James Bonsall who has managed research at some of Ireland's leading archaeological sites, including a dig at Carrowmore in Sligo this Summer.

President of IT Sligo Dr Brendan McCormack has welcomed the international conference to the institute and the region, and says it acknowledges IT Sligo as an international centre of excellence in archaeological research.

With the CAO application deadline looming on 1st February, IT Sligo is holding a CAO information evening this evening (Tuesday) from 5pm to 8.30.

Leaving cert students and their parents, and mature students are invited to the event which includes talks and individual advice and information on courses, how to apply, SUSI grant, HEAR and DARE schemes and the financial supports available.

Cheating is on the rise in Irish universities and colleges, with business studies students most likely to be accused of “academic dishonesty”.

Since 2010, there have been at least 2,300 cases of students cheating at universities and institutes of technology, according to information compiled by The Irish Times based on Freedom of Information requests.

The volume of cases has been rising annually across most colleges at a time when technology is making it easier to cheat by concealing smartphones or other electronic devices in exam halls or plagiarising, using so-called essay mills online.

A breakdown of cases of cheating across colleges indicates that business studies students are more likely to cut corners – or at least get caught doing so – in exams.

However, arts students are the worst offenders when it comes to plagiarism or failing to credit other people’s work in their assignments.

At IT Sligo, a student was disciplined for forging a medical cert to get out of an assignment, while two students at the same college were caught sneaking notes inside their calculator covers.

The consequences for cheating vary across different institutions, ranging from penalties such as a reduction in marks, letters of warning, fines, suspension or even expulsion.

The first Engineering Fair in the Northwest will take place tomorrow (Sunday) at IT Sligo.

The college is partnering with healthcare company Abbott to host the engineering fair from 12-5pm tomorrow at IT Sligo, with free admission.

The event is being run as part of Engineers Week and will include a range of performances, interactive displays, workshops and demonstrations to interest all the family.

The interactive workshops will include - how to create an ice cream without using a freezer, seeing how water is treated, and developing 2D computer games.

Visitors can race mini-drones in an aerial race course on campus, and build hydrogen-powered cars in a hands-on workshop.

Those attending will be greeted by a larger-than-life robot, and see the Belfast-built Delorean car that featured in "Back to the Future".

Organisers say the Sligo Engineering Fair is an opportunity for children, young people and their parents to discover the amazing world of engineering, with fun shows and demonstrations showing how engineering is crucial to our every day lives - from clean water to medical devices.

It's aimed at encouraging more young people, and young women in particular, to consider a future career in engineering.

The event takes place from 12 to 5pm this Sunday at the Institute of Technology in Sligo, and admission is free.

A Grange Institute of Technology Sligo student has won the Allergan Innovation Award.

Patricia Regan of the Faculty of Science at IT Sligo won the prestigious award along with €7,500 for her pioneering research into Alzheimer’s disease.

Her research aims to provide pivotal diagnostic evidence in the field of Alzheimer’s research by understanding the processes in brain development.

This specialist scientific analysis will be carried out under the expert supervision of Dr. Margaret Doherty, a leading lecturer in Biomedical Science at IT Sligo.

Patricia has been a student at IT Sligo since 2013, achieving a First Class Honours in BSc in Medical Biotechnology before continuing her studies at the Institute through a Master's in Bioanalytical Chemistry.

The Cabinet meeting will get underway at 11am at IT Sligo, and will be followed by the launch by Taoiseach Leo Varadker of Project Ireland 2040 – the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan.

The President of IT Sligo Dr Brendan McCormack says the institute is honoured to host the historic Cabinet meeting – the first ever held on an IT campus.

He says the event is a vote of confidence in Sligo, the Northwest region, its young people and its future.

Dr McCormack says he believes the plans being announced on Friday will have a transformative impact on the economic well-being of the north-west region, and will provide a much-needed boost for the region.

This Friday, a group of staff from IT Sligo will climb the equivalent of Mount Everest in their homes, to raise money for the North West Hospice.

A small team of the college's staff will scale the equivalent of Mount Everest - climbing 55,000 steps, or 3,500 flights of stairs - with the target of raising €5,000 for the Hospice.

They've already raised over half of that target, and are asking people to donate on the IT Sligo Facebook page, where there will be filmed updates and a tally of the steps achieved.

Rosie Gilleece, Marketing Manager at IT Sligo, told Midwest News that the staff decided to undertake this challenge at a time when the North West Hospice is missing out on vital fundraising, due to Covid-19 restrictions....

Ministers have been keen to point out that the National Planning Framework is not Dublin-focused.

But with 40 percent of the population living in the Greater Dublin Area, and congestion a growing problem, those who work and live in the capital want a slice of the pie.

The cabinet is meeting at the moment to approve the Ireland 2040 development plan.

Ministers have gathered in Sligo to finalise the 116 billion euro strategy.

It will see a strong focus on health, housing and transport.

The plan aims to cater for the extra million people who will be living in Ireland by 2040.

Minister for Transport Shane Ross told Midwest News in Sligo today that they are going to invest heavily in the west and northwest.

Meanwhile Sligo Fianna Fail TD Marc MacSharry says he is disappointed that Government has decided to announce how they are using €115bn of the taxpayers’ money at a glorified photo call in Sligo – when in his opinion it should have been announced in the Dail.

He said he is hopeful with what has been leaked in the past few days that the regional areas are looked after.

The students and staff of IT Sligo were recognised nationally at a recent award ceremony in Dublin for their efforts to reduce harm experienced by students from excess use of alcohol.

At the inaugural presentation ceremony for the REACT (Responding to Excessive Consumption of Alcohol in Third Level) awards in Dublin City University, The Minister of State for Education Ms Mary Mitchell O’Connor congratulated all involved in this ground-breaking initiative.

IT Sligo’s Student Health Nurse, Caroline Kennedy-Crawford explained that over the course of the last 3 years, the team at IT Sligo together with the Students Union have implemented a variety of programmes and initiatives to tackle the ongoing issue of excessive alcohol consumption among student.

REACT is an awards and accreditation scheme for 3rd level institutions who implement an action plan in partnership with their students and student leaders that seeks to reduce the adverse consequences of excess alcohol consumption.

Over 100 companies will be offering careers advice and job opportunities at IT Sligo’s Careers Fair next Wednesday the 17th of October.

Abbott, AbbVie, Amazon and Ericsson are just some of the large multi-nationals in attendance.

The event, which will run in the main campus building, will cover a range of industry sectors including Engineering, Computing, Digital Technology, Accounting and Science. They will also include local companies - both large and small- across many sectors.

The Careers Fair is of particular interest to students and graduates, but is also open to the public..

IT Sligo’s Careers Fair is on Wednesday 17th October, from 11am to 3pm.

Three Mayo men will play in the Rustlers Division 1 Final on Monday, March 12th.

Michael Guilfoyle from Foxford, Gary Higgins from Ballyhaunis, and Darren Murray from Balla, will play with IT Sligo FC against Limerick IT.

The final, which was postponed due to Storm Emma, will kick off at 2pm at the FAI headquarters in Abbottstown, Dublin and a win for IT Sligo FC will see the team return to the College & Universities Football Premier League.

The team made the finals after beating Blanchardstown IT 5 – 4 on penalties after a 1 – 1 extra time draw in the semi-final playoff.

IT Sligo also qualified for the Rustlers Plate Final, after beating Bray FE 9 – 0.

The team will play against GMIT in Galway tomorrow.

Many of the players in the squad, including Mayo player, Gary Higgins, are on IT Sligo’s Sports Scholarship Programme which helps talented student athletes reach their sporting potential.

Up to 20 new scholarships and bursaries are awarded each year under the scheme and students who are rewarded scholarships receive mentoring support, training guidance and other value-added support.